US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, has arrived in Kathmandu.

This is Lu’s third visit to Nepal.

During this visit, Lu will pay courtesy calls on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Foreign Minister NP Saud, US Embassy in Kathmandu said.

Lu is scheduled to hold a meeting with Minister Saud at 4 pm and with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at 6 pm.

Similarly, he will meet with a member organization of the American Chamber of Commerce to learn about their efforts to give Nepalis unique skills so they can compete globally as well as with the senior leaders of the Nepal government during his stay in Nepal, according to the embassy.

Lu had previously come to Kathmandu and met with high government representatives of the Nepal government when there was a heated debate on whether or not the MCC should be passed by the House of Representatives in Nepal.

Lu is on a tour of South Asian countries including India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, sources have said.

Lu visited Nepal for two days in July 2022. He had come to Kathmandu after the Nepal government decided not to be part of the State Partnership Program (SPP).

Prior to that, he visited Nepal in November 2021. At that time MCC was pending in the Parliament.